12 Tips on How to Organize Your Yarn Stash

By Margaret
February 2, 2012

When you're a crafter, loving yarn is easy, but keeping it organized can be a challenge. Keeping an organized stash will help you know what you have, find what you need, and make projects you love. Whether you're a beginner learning how to keep you new yarn tidy, or an experienced crafter with a stash that feel like it's out of control, these 12 tips will help you organize your yarn and focus on the fun part: making beautiful projects!

Take stock of what you have.
One easy way to sort your yarn is to label 4 boxes; "WIPs (works in progress)," "Will Use/Have Pattern," "Will Use/No Pattern Yet," and "Won't Use." Take the opportunity to look at the yarn you have and decide how much you have room for.

Separate your projects from your supplies.
Keep "WIPs" in easy reach and separated from the rest of your stash. If your projects are hard to get to, or hiding under the rest of your stash, you're less likely to work on them. A storage ottoman, large project bag or basket works well to store WIPs.

Put your yarn where you can see it.Keep all your "Will Use" yarn easy to access. Think creatively about where to put yarn, you can use many things besides plastic boxes or bags. Just remember to keep yarn away from pets, moisture and dust.

Discover or create a storage method you love.If you're looking at those beautiful skeins for inspiration, keep yarn visible in clear vases and decorative bowls. You can transform a door by adding a shoe organizer filled with yarn, or re-purpose containers you already have! For inspiration, follow our Pinterest Board: Craft Spaces & Storage (you may be asked to sign into Pinterest).

Choose an organization option; sort yarn by weight, fiber or color.
Keeping your yarn in groups will help you find what you need once you've picked a project. Choose whichever appeals to you the most!

Use your Ravelry 'Stash' to save yarn info.
Photograph your newly-sorted yarn and post it to your stash on Ravelry. From there, you can easily compare what you have, search for patterns of what to make, and keep the details like dye lot and yardage in one convenient location. Plus, you don't have to worry about saving all your labels!

Convert messy skeins or hanks to balls.
Balling-up yarn is a great way to tidy up hanks and skeins that have begun to loose their structure, and it makes the yarn easy to use when the time comes.

Store multiple balls of a dye lot together.
If you bought multiple skeins in the same dye lot, or dyed multiple hanks in the same bath, keep those yarns together. It's much easier to make a large project when you have all the yarn together. Gallon-sized zip-top bags are a great option.

Keep projects to frog handy.
If you have been meaning to frog (or undo) a project, keep it on hand for at-home activities that don't require full attention, like watching TV.

Protect yarn from water, dust and creepy-crawlies.
There are some bugs that might try to live in your yarn, so keep it up off the floor, dry, and in a well-lit place to discourage them. If you think there might have been insects near your yarn, seal it in a plastic bag and pop it in the freezer for a day to get rid of bugs.

Put tiny scraps in one location.
When you need "waste" yarn, or an amigurumi needs an embroidered face, you'll be glad you know exactly where to find small scraps in your stash.

Don't be afraid to let go of extra yarn.
Yarn you don't love just takes up space and makes it harder to find the yarn that you do love. Donate or swap anything in the "Won't Use" box, and you'll be helping others as well as yourself.

What tips would you add to this list? Have you used any of these? Tell us all about it in the comments section below!

Wonderful posting. I just bought a ton of yarn today and I have no idea what to do with it. Currently all my yarn is in a number of bags. It's not fun! Thank you for this posting.

Jane

Thanks for the suggestions. They should help in finding what you already have when a new pattern or idea pops up.

Pikegirl

Plastic milk carton crates work well stacked for yarn storage. Stack on side so opening is to the front.

Darlene

see through totes are the best way for me to sort in colors.

Kohrenberger

Donate to Senior centers. They love having the yarn for teaching classes!

Jesse

I recently went through my stash and donated two boxes of yarn that I had not used in over 2 years to the women at my local Project Linus group. It was like Christmas for them and I knew that all of the yarn was going to be used for children's blankets in hospitals all over the world. What a great feeling!

Fultonm04

I use 3 pop-up nylon laundry hampers with 3 compartments each. I store a different color in each compartment. I can easily see what I have and they can even hang by their handles on the wall.

Fibrerox

Great tips! I'm lucky enough to have a whole room just for my knitting stuff it's like a mini store :) I'm going to start using the stash in ravelry though I didn't know about that.

melinda

I use zippered plastic containers that came with sheets, comforters etc. in them. Currently, they are sorted by colors, not type. I would like a hanging shoe bag. Someone had one on Knitting Paradise - it looked like it would work great!

Jpbrntly

I use clear, vinyl, hanging sweater storage bags to sort my yarn. Projects get their own shelf for the project and yarn, along with a printout of the pattern I'm using. The rest of my yarn is sorted by color, though I have one shelf for small partial balls of various colors. And if I know I'm not going to use something (fell out of love with the yarn, didn't like it when I used it, or usually I didn't like how it feels) then it gets donated or given to a friend who could use it. I have limited space and don't like having a huge stash, so I can sometimes clear stuff out rather aggressively :)

Herrprojects

I make myself donate any yarn amount smaller than a tennis ball
Not only do I sort by color and weight , I sort by fiber too.

Sebloomer

My other thought on storing yarns is to keep the labels with yarn so you know what brand, weight, shade. etc. I have several partial skeins of white yarn but don't remember if it is 3-ply or 4-ply which I can figure out but not sure of fiber content. Need to pull out all my plastic containers and sort again.

Mlj1954

I created labels and have the bins and will be sorting, shifting and reorganizing this weekend. I have so many things on needles and didn't keep the pattern with them, that I am going to frog those. If I have a pattern and yarn together, they are going in a zip lock bag. My sorting is going to be by type and I am getting rid of what I don't want or will never use.

Thanks for the helpful tips.

Fawn S Smith

I have two 100 gal clear storage boxes that are full. When I go to use a skein, I put it in a 2 liter bottle that I have cut around the neck, and feed the yarn though the opening. That way, the yarn stays clean and fur free. ( I have several animals.) I am about to build a sorta "wine rack" to store all of my bottles on.

Craftyak

The XXL and XXXL Zip lock bags are great to keep large projects together.

Bruesch56

I use clear totes and then separate them into baby, dark colors, medium colors, and light colors...oh yeah and then all my 100% cotton for dishcloths etc! With the clear see thru totes it makes it really easy to see just what I need and they are stackable.

MB@YarnUiPhoneAppv2.1

Great tips...I personally like those collapsible nylon laundry containers, which I use to store my fabric stash. My yarn stash isn't nearly as large. I thank my lucky stars that yarn is more expensive than fabric. I swear that's only thing that's holding me back from having a yarn to keep my house warm.

Bluejean33030

Use your left over yarn (2 strands at a time) to knit or crochet dog & cat rugs. Donate to the pet shelter nearest to you. Then the pets don't have to lay on a cement floor or wire cage. :)

Martha B

Zipper style storage bags are the easiest to open and close and are perfect for those small bits of yarn, or those skeins of eyelash type yarns that like to lose their label. The bags prevent huge tangled messes. I use covered, plastic, storage bins for average 4-ply ( by color), baby yarns, chenilles, specialty yarns, weaving/homespun (by color). Certain yarns work best for warping my loom for scarves. Then there's the things in process, who's yarn is stored with it. I use mostly man-made fibers so I worry less whether or not it "breathes."

Catch42

I save the heavy-duty clear plastic, zippered bags that sheet sets and blankets come in and use them to store medium and large amounts of yarn. Easy to see thru and easy to pick up and move a bunch of yarn around when I need to get to something else.

Indianna

I actually keep mine in Rubbermaid totes, the ones with the lids that are easy to open. Mainly because sometimes we have mice in the house. Eww. I also make a list of the yarn in each bin where I make two copies. One is taped to the lid while the other is in a notebook. Mainly because I have a bad back and it is easiler to look in the notebook than pulling out the bins.

Lindaq49

When caking, before I pull yarn off the holder, I slip the label into the middle. It makes for a pleasant surprise down the road when you (finally) decide what to make with that yarn.

guest

People have "won't use" yarn?!

Joann Gardner

i gave alot of leftover yarn, a small tote full , to the daycare where my daughter works. i am sure the kids will use it up. already started a new stash.

Becky_bianco

Organize or participate in a knit for charity project, gather your knitting friends,exchange yarn so everyone is working with something new to them. Chat, knit, give

Megomedic

All hints are helpful... but for the "won't use" (?) yarn, quick knitting crate or cage pads for your local Humane Society or animal shelter is a fun and useful way to use that up... kitties & pups really don't mind if colors match or if your gauge isn't perfect... little tiny scraps can make great toys too. :-)

Grandma2alora

I bought a manual ball winder, and it really helps with those 1/2 skeins that would otherwise get tangled in storage. Also really easy to work from these wound balls.

Great ideas in the comments about how to use up small quantities. Thanks for the ideas.

Shirleym997

I like the idea of using odd yarns for rugs for the animal shelter.

Mom4ksi

I donated my odds and ends to the elementary school where several friends teach, figuring it would only be used in art class. Wrong! My yarn has been used in math class (to teach about triangles and squares and other shapes) and by a history class to show the routes of early American explorers and the size of the Louisiana purchase, etc. The superintendent even used several different colors of yarn to map out the bus routes at the beginning of the new school year!

T. Pup

Great tips! I have to disagree with pre-balling your yarn to store. Yarn that has been wound into a ball or center-pull cake will lose some of its elasticity over time, so it's best to wind just before you plan to use it. If the skein or hank is messy, loose or tangled, simply rewind it into a nicer-looking skein (use the back of a chair if you don't have a swift or skein-winder). That way your yarn is store neatly and is in great shape when you are actually ready to use it!

Lucy

I also keep my remnants in large labelled ziplocks (100%wool, acrylic, cotton, sock yarn). So when I have a little ball left (2" or smaller) they go directly into the remnant bag. That way, when I need a small amount I'm not left searching for it.

Marybeth P.

I collected antique picnic baskets for ages (and still do) and they became a good place to stash some of my yarn, sorted by weight and tagged as such, and is attractive storage that fits well in the decor

Rosette

I also use ziplock freezer bags in various sizes. I have also made pet blankets for cats and dogs. But where is the storage for yarns I will proably never use, but can't bear to part with ?

Jbermarsh

I use CLEAN old panty hose to keep my skeins from getting messy

Really good to see an organization protocol written down. Helps to keep my attention focused and mind clear on what my goals are.

Kidneywoman

Our Independent Living center for special adults uses yarn to make manes on stick horses they sell to raise funds. I was greeted like some kind of hero the time I walked in the door with bags of left-over yarn. It was fun.

My husband loves the pretzels from Cosco that come in large plastic containers with a plastic lid that snaps on. They are clear and are great for holding five or six skeins. I also use them for "leftover" yarn and they stack well.

Leodismore

Well, I've read all the comments so far. Aren't there a lot of knitting and craft lovers out there! I think all the ideas are great and very "doable". I haven't got all that wool in a stash, but what I do have I store in see-through blanket and duvet bags that I have amassed over the years.
I loved the idea of pet blankets, never thought of that. And what a good way to use up all that wool which is just a bit older and messy. Thanks!

J2dogledr

Wonderful info. I have acquired a mountain of yarns, since our church started a Prayer Shawl program.I too use the sippered sheet, comforter bags and have sorted according to color as most of the yarns have no labels. It's been a very interesting challenge. I have found enough color and diversity to use the donated yarns, but it is way ahead of me. Thanks for all the hints.

Ering0615

I use plastic starage bins for my yarn. I also have a hanging organizer in my closet for smaller stashes. Fir small balls and bis of yarn I use the plastic containers that peanuts ot pickles come in. I also use bigger ones that have cookies or pretzels for my smaller brojects like baby hats or booties.

Andrearestall

I recently had 2 half balls of wool left over. I knitted two beany type hats in imitation cable stitch and the day care centre where I am a volunteer, sold them for funds £2.each. A cheap warm hat for an old person and I don't have to store the wool .

Shellyb4x

I bought an over the door shoe organizer! Perfect size for those skeins of yarn!

Ceciliaayers

I use the large, empty clear animal cracker containers with a lid to store small balls of yarn or smaller odd skeins. It is easy to see what's inside, the lid closes tightly thus avoiding pests or dust and it's pet proof.

Jotpat

My daughter moved out of the house 4 months ago, and I took over her walk-in closet. The only thing in it is all my yarn and supplies (pattern books, hooks, needles, etc.). Any yarn not yet assigned to a particular project is sorted by types of yarn and is stored in individual clear Rubbermaid-type storage bins with covers. I enjoyed collecting different tote bags as souvenirs from various vacation spots thoughout my life, and I now use these for each individual project -- whether in progress or not yet begun. Once I have the yarn matched up with a specific pattern, it goes into a bag. When I am actually working on the project, I also get to reminisce the fun and relaxing vacations from my past. This is especially nice because I head the crafting group for our church. We often have multiple charitable projects going -- lap blankets for the veterans, baby blankets and clothes for a local shelter, prayer shawls, chemo caps. Never thought about animal shelters though. I can see this will be a great way to use up remnants!

Bonnylou

I take all of my scraps and small amounts of yarn and make lap blankets for nursing homes.. Just picking up a color with out looking makes different and beautiful lap blankets.... The people in the homes love to get new ones ... They wear out from washing... just a thought that works for my friend and I. I did not think of taking them to vets home in the area thanks for the info Jotpat..

Leramsey38

Those pieces of yarn that aren't long enough to do much. cut shorter and put out this spring where the birds can get them and add thm to the nest. Then they will have a colorful nest.

Sdkimblecreek

I have donated leftover balls of yarn for someone who makes Quilts for Kids; they love all the different colors to tie the quilts. Also I inherited needles from my mother who was a knitter as well so I finally went through all of "our" needles, made a list both knitting and crochet, and then only kept those I liked and plan to locate someplace who needs the extra sets of same sizes. Did keep extra sets for socks, etc. Love all the above suggestions; thanks everyone.

Janice Franklin

I roll my leftover yarn into balls and place them in a large clear plastic bag, I use one that contained a comforter. When I have enough I use these along with one large ball (one pound or so) of black, white or navy to make a scrap afghan such as granny squares. .I then donate the finished afghan. It doesn't matter what colors you use as long as they are all outlined in the same color. I use white as a base with pastels and black with brights.

Cajenkins

All my fine yarn leftovers ie baby, sock types are sorted and ready to go to very elderly lady who uses it to make premie caps for our hospital. I feel good about it having a home and also gives me an excuse to get new stuff to use and the cycle begins all over again!

Nbyousey

I use the large plastic containers that pretzels or cheese balls come in to store my little balls or yarn. When I make mittens or something else that takes a small amount for stripes, or whatever, I just dump it out if I can't see enough of what I am looking for.

Qwertymiss

I use both the plastic milk carton method (which are stored upstairs in my craft room) and the stacked picnic basket method (to store yarn in my living room - I knew there was a good reason to haunt those tag sales). Bought myself a metal 10-oz. ball winder and went to town one Saturday winding ALL the yarn in the house, and FINALLY taking the time to sort it all out (I found by colors worked best for me). Now I'm busy crocheting hats for future sale (or donation, depending :-). The "rugs" for animal shelters is a great idea - will use tag sale yarn for that. As mentioned before, I find that if you gently "guide" the yarn going into the ball winder with your fingers, it does not wind too tightly.

Allie

I like to look at my yarn and have it handy in my hobby room where I knit and sew. So, I bought several small open wire containers that connect together and built a wall of 12 storage bins. I cut squares of plastic the size of the bin (10 x 10) and put them in each square to keep yarn from falling through. It is absolutely wonderful and convenient and my knitting friends are doing this now. It was very inexpensive and can be dismanteled by hand and stored or moved ! Since I store the yarn by color, the wall looks like a rainbow !

Anne Barker

Another project for yarns not being used is to call your local library and plan on teaching kids and adults how to knit and crochet. Many kids have no one to teach them these wonderful skills. Have some of your knitting and crocheting friends help you with the teaching. Contact the children's or young adult librarian at your library. They are always looking for great ideas for programs. We have had a couple of these in the large meeting room with one table each for learning embroidery, knitting, crocheting, paper arts, and jewelry making. These have been really popular and lots of fun for a wide range of ages. Guys enjoy this too. The Friends of the Library paid for some supplies such as knitting needles, and some supplies were donated. Now every year we have people asking when we will repeat the program.

Another idea for storage is to use the old hat boxes that your grandmother kept. These have string handles and look cool on a shelf in your den waiting for you to get back to your project.

E9wife

I just finished reorganizing my yarn. I store yarn for specific projects in clear plastic containers with notes as to pattern, needle size and project written on the backside of large bright sticky notes stuck to the front side of the container. That way I can stack them on high shelves and pick my next project without moving everything. I store my knitting needles in clear budvases by height. These are stored on open shelvesin the guestroom with funky hats purched on top. My current projects and things to be frogged are indeed in the storage ottoman in the tv area.

Charilu67

I have spend almost two months in organizing my stash! But it worked. I used large ziplog bags (heavyduty) and placed all yarns of the same color in one plastic bind with a top. I also "labeled" the bin with tag paper in green, pasted 4 inches of each yarn to the label, adding the amount in onces, grams, yards and meters. (I have a large collection of books and patterns in several languages. Some directions are given only in grams.) When I get too tired to knitt I look for patterns that I can use with the available yarn. If I need to buy, I know exactly how much.
Although I'm lucky enough to have a "resource room" where I keep all books magazines and supplies for sewing, crafting and knitting, I was literary running out of space.
I also donated yarns to the Senior Center every six months of so. The ladies make small blankets for primature babies and donate them to the local hospital, maternity ward. Other ladies like to crochet lap blankets and organizers for people in wheel chair. Another group of knitter, make nd donate blankets to my Church Adoption Center, and for children in Foster Care. So much to knit, so little time!
I like the idea of knitting "pillows" for cats and dogs. Wonderful idea! Thanks!

Anne Wolf

Lucky me! I have a cedar lined closet for my yarns. I am a weaver and knitter. I organize by fiber first, then color. Some "to be finished" are in plastic boxes. Some, ribbon yarns, are in boxes. On the side I store my weaving reeds, etc. Multiple skeins are in soft plastic containers with zippers.

Scrappy Grandma

Great ideas on here! I like to store my yarn in a floor-to-ceiling bookcase that allows me to see everything that I have available at one time without digging through boxes or totes and wearing myself out looking for the right yarn. I attached a curtain rod w/shower curtain to the front of the cabinet to keep the yarn dust free. The stash is sorted by color, so you can see in a glance if you have enough for your project. For my leftover stash, I purchased a small chest of drawers at a thrift store that I nestled into a corner of the living room where I sit in the evenings to work on scrap projects. Very small amounts of yarn become animal blankets, tennis ball size scraps go into charity lap robes (wheelchair size), and larger amounts become caps for the homeless, or scrap blankets. Scrap projects look nice with a base color (your choice) repeated every few rows to anchor the project, and I like to use my "I've decided I really don't like this yarn" for the base rows because it's absorbed into the colorful rows around it.

Eredondo619

If anyone is fortunate enough to have a 99 cent store or Dollar Tree store near them I suggest you check those out! The Dollar Tree I go to has shoebox containers, stackable bins and plastic containers of all sizes (either clear or white) things like that and I love it! Every store is different and they do change stock sometimes but I've found enough to make it easy to find and organized enough for the space I have! It doesn't cut into my yarn budget either!

NM in MN

Thank you everyone for sharing your hints and ideas! The only thing I can think of that I do that hasn't been addressed is to place all my circular needles, in their cases, in gallon Ziplock freezer bags, for strength. I have an old, 3" 3-ring binder, and I punch holes in the Ziplock bags, along the bottom edge, which I insert in size order into the 3-ring binder, so that the zipper edge is flush with the long edge of the binder. I put all of one size in one bag. Place the binder on a shelf, and voila! There are all my circular needles at a glance! When I remove one, I either leave its case from the store in the Ziplock bag, or I leave a note stating which project I am using a needle for. Then, when I need a certain length needle, I know whether to buy one or not. I also keep a needle sizing gauge in the front bag so I always know where one is if I have a question about a needle size. I have those little sizing gadgets in lots of places, like a desk drawer, in a pencil/pen holder, hanging on a push pin on my cork board, etc.

MHH

Where do you find the XXL or XXXL Ziploc bags? Someone told me Target carried them, but when I asked them at my local store they looked at me like I was nuts!

Sharren

Thank you for all the tips. It has inspired me to sort my stash of yarn. I have been putting off doing it.

Chlosturg

Answer to where to get XXL or XXXl Ziplock bags, Try Walmart on the Ziplock bag aisle. They usually have them. If you can't find them, ask one of the Sales people or one of the Stockers. They will be happy to help you.

Cee

So many great ideas! I have used many of them - rubbermaid containers (huge size), ziplock bags, boxes stacked on their sides with lids off, etc. I am now using space bags - the kind you use your vacuum to take the air out of. I used a bunch when I moved and wanted to repurpose them. They work great keeping dust, bugs, water, pet hair out and save so much space. Now only one wall of my spare room is devoted to my stash. I sorted by color and fiber and can see what I have.

maillady

Thank you everyone for all of the wonderful ideas. I think one of the best ideas was re-using the oatmeal container!
I keep any pattern I like that came with the label or even the ones I printed online in the clear top-load sheet protectors. I have these in a 3 ring binder, sorted by category.
I put each skein of yarn in a ziplock bag. Then put the ones I need for a project in a beach bag, they do come in different sizes. I also put the needles required with the instructions in the bag. All I have to do is grab a bag and go. Off to the park bench, beach or even the doctor's office, it helps to pass the time. I keep all labels til the yarn is done, this way I can store the label with the leftover yarn.

Nck4915121c

great ideas, just up early and got inspired to destash things in my closet. Some yarn is in plastic bags, projects in bags, etc, time to get organized, of course who has not lost a skein of yarn or two in hidden bags,happy knitting

Sequimbloomers

I use clear plastic makeup bags-cheap and strong, for storing needles and tools. Makes it easy to find an item. Also the cheap glass vases that are used for floral deliveries ( and can be found at thrift stores) make good containers for keeping yarn from rolling around during knitting or stash tall knit needles and ruler and calculator in them.

Sequimbloomers

I have a carpenters bucket cover with pockets to keep yarn and tools untangled. Keep a nail file and lotion in one pocket also. Available on line or at hardware stores.

[...] not a professional organiser, I adhere to all of the stash organisational rules listed in this article on the Lion Brand [...]

Msmindyf

I use the cubicle system I purchased at target with several fabric drawers..several house ongoing projects...one has nothing but scrap yarns..and the open compartments house unused yarn. I should seperate by colors, tho..maybe I will make that my project this week.

Judyinoz39

I use the Starlight doubledoor cabnets...keep everything on shelves,by color and weight. Keeps all in order and dust free. I have 6 on one wall in a spare bedroom. When I have to much I donate some.

Dee

I think my "won't use" box will be pretty much empty! LOL Seems I always feel I could use it for SOMETHING!

[...] on the Lion Brand blog, they’ve got a great list of 12 Tips on How to Organize Your Yarn Stash. These are all great! I do a lot of them myself, but my absolute favorite thing to do it use gallon [...]

Hi Colleen,I think I read some place that if you make them the size of a medium sized kennel ,thats what they'd like ...not good at figuring inches off the top of my head but can measure my girls(my dog) kennel and get back to you...But I just crochet like i would be making a small afghan.....thats what I have done so far...and no matter what The kittens and pups would love to sleep on them !! scraps are great for these as they dont mind all the different colors!!!
Happy crocheting/knitting!!
Cheryl

Small amounts of yarn make great premie hats for the local NICU. As soon as my premies are big enough that I have time to myself I plan to donate hats to bless other mothers as I was blessed.

c00leen from Tucson

I love Love LOVE all of these great ideas for storing my stash! I've recently converted one of our bedrooms to a "craft room" (since my husband converted one to a "man cave"). My girls "left the nest" about 3 years ago, leaving my husband and I 4 bedrooms! I found these "bins" online (they remind me of flour bins in an old-fashioned store) - and each bin can hold up to ~5 medium skeins of yarn. And I bought 4 of them - with 9 bins each! They're open, so I can easily see what's in each one! I had a sudden inspiration about a year ago to make a fair-isle sweater-of-100-colors - and bought 100 skeins of Knit Picks "Palate" wool. I've not yet started my sweater, but I've had SO much fun using it to knit up some darling stuffed animals! I've now sorted all of those skeins - along with the REST of my stash - by color into my bins. They're SO inspiring to see!

Linda

I have bins I bought from the Dollar Tree. I use a spare closet with shelves for my bins. I put the sizes together, and the scrapes I make an afgan square an keep it going till it's big enough for a table. They are very beautiful with the different colors blended.

Dollar Tree has those under the bed zippered storage bags, that would be great for people on a budget to keep their yarn organized. I know I'm going to try them and see how well they work, I have mine in clear plastic boxes and I am quickly outgrowing them...need something larger...much larger LOL

Michelle

I've been using my won't use yarn to make baby and kids hats and then donate to goodwill. It's been a rough winter here and every little bit helps

I have a tip for storing yarn that you already know what you will make with it. I save the zippered bags that sheets and blankets come in and use them for my yarn. They come in different sizes, depending on what was in them originally and I find I can usuall fine one that fits the amount of yarn I have for a specific project. Most of these bags also have a kind of pocket that used to hold a picture of the item to show what it looks like when not folded: Sheets are shown on a bed to show the pattern for example. I remove the picture of the sheets or blanket and use the pocket to store a copy of the project I plan to make. Not only does this serve as a reminder of what I had in mind when I bought the yarn, but it also makes sure I don't have to search for the pattern when I am ready to get started. If I got the pattern online, I don't have to worry about the site closing or the pattern getting deleted, or even my computer crashing resulting in the loss of the patterns store on my PC.
I find the bags that my sheets and blankets came in VERY useful for organizing my stash, they are free and it's a way of recycling plastic bags. All my yarn is in such bags, even when I don't know what I will make with it yet. Give it a try, I think you'll like the idea.

http://www.facebook.com/ute.willmore Ute Willmore

Lots of great ideas for yarn storage and using left overs or yarn you don't like. I got lots of inspiration reading your comments. I will make a donation to a charity knitting group soon, since I barely have time to knit for myself, friends and family.
What I didn't find yet was a good solution for storing knitting needles, especially circular ones, so I thought I'd share mine.
I keep mine in a 3 ring binder, but I don't use ziplock bags as someone describer. Instead, I went to the local office supply store and found plastic sheets designed to store CDs, 2 per sheet. The sheets are sturdy and designed to store in a binder, so the holes don't rip so easy. And I can label each CD pocket to describe what size needles are in the pocket. I find I can store several circular needles in one pocket. The sheets are inexpensive too, around $5 for a packet of 6 sheets I think. That gave me 12 pockets to store my circulars, and that is more than enough. I use the pocket on the inside of the binder to store a needle sizer tool, just in case I need to check the size of a needle before storing it.
I haven't found a great way to store my sock needles yet. I have several sets of double pointed needle of 4 or 5 needles to the set. does anyone have a suggestion for storing them? I would be grateful for some hints.

Whenever I have just a small amount of a yarn leftover after a project and I know I won't need it for repairs or anything, I cut it up into small pieces, an inch or two in length, save it in a box or a plastic baggie, then in the spring when I see birds starting to gather nesting material, I'll scatter it about where I see them search. It gives me a real smile to see a bird nest with a bright piece of yarn woven in.

nancyintexas

I have a four unit book shelf. Just went through & cleared all the books I no longer want. Rearranged the books so I have the top shelf, all the way across empty. Grouping my yarns there & love it. Looks like textural art. Also, right now I have a three ring binder with plastic sheet protectors. In each sheet I put my project instructions, my yarn label, and my 4x4 swatch, and any notes about the project.

Monga

I've been keeping my yarn stash in those vacuum seal bags. That way I can safely store it in the basement without worrying about bugs and that basement smell getting in. Got them at Dollar General and are so easy to use. Also a few years ago I found a beautiful pottery soup dish with a lid that has the cut out for a ladle. Had to have it - didn't know what to do with it until I realized I could put my ball of yarn in there with the string coming out of the lid and when not knitting the needles can also stick out of the hole. It looks pretty as well as being functional and I love it!

Grand,ma

I use clear plastic boxes, let's me see the yarns at all times...good post, thank you!

KarenAnn

If you have yarn you won't be using, please consider donating it to an animal rescue organization. I belong to a "knittin' for kittens" group whose members knit and crochet beds and snuggles for the cats at a shelter. We accept any acrylic yarns, in any amounts and colors. Naturals like wools and cottons tend to shrink in the big industrial dryers. The cats sure enjoy having a soft bed to sleep on. Some members also make cat toys and dog decorative collars with the yarn. Please remember the homeless pets!